Sinkers are the workhorses of catfishing rigs. Yet, compared to other rigging components such as lines and hooks, matching the functional attributes of sinkers to the fishing situation is often overlooked. Whether you’re leashing baits on bottom with setrigs, bouncing over bottom while drifting, working floatrigs, or finessing cats with a lighter touch, using the right sinker is the easiest way to improve your presentation.

Consider pouring your own sinkers. You’ll save money, and you’ll always have your favorite sinker on hand. With the right equipment, molding sinkers is an easy process. Plus, you get the satisfaction of fishing with your own home-crafted tackle, but be sure to follow safety precautions provided by the manufacturer when working with lead.

Environmental note—Because lead tackle can pose health risks to the environment—including ingestion by waterbirds—some states, particularly in the northeastern U.S., have banned the use or sale of some lead tackle. There’s also a ban on the use of lead sinkers in 13 U.S. national wildlife refuges. Because laws concerning the use of lead tackle vary by state and over time, we suggest you check current regulations in your area.

In jurisdictions where lead bans are in place, most regulations prohibit using lead sinkers of a small enough size to be potentially ingested by waterbirds. Most catfishing, however, involves using heavier and larger sinkers, so catfishermen aren’t affected as much by the regulations as are anglers of panfish and trout.

Alternatives to lead are materials such as tin, bismuth, brass, steel, and tungsten. Several companies, such as Bullet Weights, Lake Fork Tackle, XCalibur, Outkast Tackle, Penetrator Weights, Tru-Tungsten, and Water Gremlin offer lead-alternative sinkers, with most styles developed for the bass fishing market. Heavy bullet sinkers, used primarily in bass fishing, are available in lead-free materials and can serve the same purpose as a sliding egg sinker in catfishing. Water Gremlin offers tin split shot that works well for riggings requiring smaller sinkers.

Sinker Characteristics

The primary consideration when selecting sinkers for a particular rig is the shape of the sinker. A sinker determines how far and accurately a rig can be cast, how fast it sinks through the water column, and how well it holds or drifts across the bottom. Matching the right sinker shape to the conditions you encounter on the water is the easiest way to improve your presentation.

Casting—Catmen who fish small rivers or ponds usually aren’t too concerned with casting distance or accuracy. Cast a bait out onto a shallow flat or toward the face of a snag, and cats holding in the general vicinity eventually find it. It’s a different story for shore anglers fishing a big river tailrace or a major arm in a large reservoir. They often need to launch baits 100 yards or more to reach active fish.

Sinker weight directly affects how far a rig can be cast, but again, sinker shape also is important. Take a look at the weights used by surf fishermen to make monster casts into strong coastal winds. Bank sinkers and similarly shaped models, with most of the weight concentrated in the bottom half of the sinker, are preferred. These weights offer maximum distance with the least amount of weight.

Casting distance also is reduced by the resistance of the bait, hook, and leader flailing through the air during the cast. Most anglers can immediately improve casting distance by using a hook shield—a small plastic clip held in place on the sinker dropper with silicone sleeves. The baited hook is inserted under the clip, and the weight of the sinker keeps the leader tight and streamlined during the cast. As soon as the bait hits the water, the hook pops free and the rig functions like a normal paternoster rig. Some distance casters claim a 30 percent increase in casting distance by using a hook shield.

Sinking—Most catfishing takes place in water shallower than about 20 feet, so most catmen don’t think too much about the sinking efficiency of their sinkers. In deep or fast water, though, a sinker design that drops quickly through the water column can be as important as casting accuracy. If the rig is carried downstream 20 feet before hitting the bottom, for example, fish holding near the target area may never detect the bait.